Faculty earn professional placement and advancement credit equivalency for professional development activities (related to their teaching) for which academic credits are not available. The credit equivalencies can be used for movement on the salary scale. Please Note: Academic credits must be approved by the Instructional Dean or supervisor and are not part of this application process. Faculty can earn PPAC credits for the following:

• Research, field work, focused reading, writing, publishing
• Professional work experience
• Conferences, workshops, seminars

The maximum credit equivalents that can be earned in one reporting year are: 

• 15 credit equivalents in "Research, Field Work, Publishing"
• 10 credit equivalents in "Professional Work Experience"
• 10 credit equivalents in "Conferences, Workshops, Seminars"

However, no more than 5 credit equivalents may be earned for any one topic or work experience. 

Research, Field Work, Publishing

• 20 hours = 1.0 credit equivalent

Professional Work Experience

• 30 hours = 1.0 credit equivalent

Conferences, Workshops, Seminars

• 20 hours = 1.0 credit equivalent

There are several workshops or other learning opportunities offered at Clark that have standardized hours. These do not require a time log. However, they do still require a PPAC Standardized Hours application which can be found on the PPAC Canvas page. Here is the current list of standardized workshops for 2024-2025. 

Applications are due by the end of week 4 of each term of the academic year (fall-spring). Applications submitted within that timeframe will be reviewed that quarter. Once the application for a quarter has closed, the application for the next quarter will open, and faculty can submit there and will hear back the next term. 

Please note: the committee does not meet during Summer quarter. Requests received after the fourth week of Spring quarter will not be reviewed until Fall. 

You will find all relevant forms, applications, and information in the PPAC Canvas shell. If you need to be added to the shell, please email the Teaching and Learning Center at tlc@clark.edu. 

Clark College Policy 335.005 states, “Credit equivalents will not be recommended for activities that are attended on scheduled class time, for which the College pays any of the expenses (with the exception of Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) activities offered during non-teaching time), or for which academic credit is already allowed.”

Yes.

No, Clark College Policy 335.005 states that business or organizational meetings of professional associations are considered a part of professional obligations and may not be counted for credit equivalents.

The Human Resources Office handles academic credits and salary advancement. Approval is required, and the "Request for Approval of Academic Credits for Salary Advancement" Form is available in Clarknet. 

Credit is not granted for development of a course a faculty member teaches at Clark College. That is considered part of the regular workload. 

Up to 5 (five) credits may be earned for work experience the first year it is submitted.

After the first year, up to 3 (three) credits may be earned for repetitious work experience. Examples of work experience include: auto mechanics, nursing, dental hygienist, private music instruction, acting in a play, and teaching outside of Clark College. One hour of preparation time can be granted for each hour of teaching time outside of Clark College.

After the initial teaching experience, only the hours for teaching time will be counted.

PPAC is not the appropriate venue for resolving compensation issues for Student Club Advisers.

If you are a presenter at a conference/seminar, a maximum of 10 hours preparation time can be given for each hour of presentation. You must include a time log with the Application for Credit Equivalents.

Yes. Since the activities are conducted during non-class time, you can receive credit equivalents for the total hours of activity up to the amount allowed under PPAC policy.

Work experience performed on the premises of a religious institution is allowed only if it is not an activity of or for the religious organization.